Suns rally to earn split with Bats

May 14, 2000

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Robert Cosby's clutch, two-run single set off a Hagerstown's four-run third inning Sunday and lifted the Suns to a 6-3 victory and a split of a doubleheader with the Greensboro Bats.

Greensboro scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Cosby threw away a grounder to allow Pedro Santana to score for a 2-1 win in the opener.

The split allowed Hagerstown to remain a half-game behind Greensboro for fourth place in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division, seven games behind leading Piedmont.

The Suns (18-19) relied on its maligned bullpen in a spot start situation to gain the split. It came after it had blown the lead in the opener.

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Hagerstown trailed when starter Dana Reece served up an RBI double to Dion Washington for a 1-0 deficit in the second.

But the Suns came back by tagging starter Keith Dunn (1-4) in the third. Auntwan Riggins led off with a single to center and advanced when Reed Johnson reached on a throwing error by Greensboro's Jeff Nettles.

After Josh Holliday walked, Cosby put Hagerstown on top with a single to left. Holliday scored when Dunn fired a pickoff throw to second into the center field that outfielder Wily Mo Pena bobbled for a double error. Cosby scored on Chris Weekly's single.

Marc Bluma (1-1) allowed a solo homer to Pena in the fourth, but held on for the win.

Hagerstown added two runs in the fifth when Holliday drew a one-out walk and Cosby singled to set up a Aaron Fera sacrifice fly. After Weekly singled, Mike Snyder drove in the final Suns' run with an RBI single.

In the opener, Hagerstown acted on its trademark - scoring early but surrendering the lead late.

The Suns took a 1-0 lead off starter and winner Brandon Claussen (4-0) when Johnson tripled and scored on Fera's one-out double to left center field.

Travis Hubbel lasted until the first batter of the seventh when he allowed Elvis Corporan a leadoff double. Justin Stine came on in relief and allowed Brad Ticehurst to sacrifice pinch runner Angel Valdez to second.

Rob Hamann (3-2) entered and was touched for an RBI double by Santana before Cosby's errant throw.